Computer Vended Stamps (2012)

Mine only have a solid line...not a dotted line.

This is an excellent source of information about the kiosk stamps:

http://www.ateeme.net/anglesw/aca_12wincor.htm

Computer vended stamps are a very hot topic these days given the number of different articles on it both in BNAPS "BNA Topics" and "The Corgi Times". Are these listed in any Canadian stamp catalog?

The next Unitrade catalogue (2014 edition) will list these "kiosk" stamps in a new "back of the book" section.

Given the many numbers of modern new issues, I have restricted myself over the years due to budgetary constraints to mostly collect those issues that still resemble traditional stamps (gummed and perforated issues) rather than those that resemble stickers (peel and stick issues).

I apologize but I didn't keep a record of whose alias matches what their real name is so whoever sent me the German stamps as thanks for the computer vended stamps that I had given away...I just want to say thank you very, very much. They are very beautiful and are a very considerate gift.

That was me - not a very tricky user name here! Glad you liked them, I'm a fan of Berlin stamps.

Ryan

Sorry. Thanks Ryan!

I heard from a contact in southern Ontario this morning that the Kiosk machines are now (as of about mid-July) only vending the 3 basic up-to-30 gram weight stamps (i.e. 63c, $1.10, $1.85).

Apparently none of the other values are available anymore.

If you try to get one of the other "over-size" values, you are now sent to a "parcel" screen where you are actually paying much more than the letter should be rated at.

Is this a temporary 'software upgrade' issue or is it permanent? I don't live anywhere near a machine so I am unable to confirm...

I was in the London post office this morning and was told the machine will be removed Friday morning before opening. One of the postal workers said that the machine's user interface, as well as the machine's overall functionality were somehow lacking. I'm not sure if the removal is for the London machine only or for all of them.

A friend of mine visited the Longueuil kiosk Wednesday night and reported that:

The machine was only set up to sell the stamps for Canada, USA, and international. The guy working there said that the machine was going to be removed on August 1 (today). He didn't know if it only to modify it or whether it is gone for good.

It looks like change is afoot.

perhaps time to reconsider my decision not to buy the stamps on ebay....

I have just returned from the Mississauga Staples store that has a Wincor machine. The store associate told me that there was a lot of usage particularly from businesses. She has not been advised if and when the machine would be removed.

The only denominations available were the three basic letter rates.I was not able to generate strips of different denominations just strips of the same denominations.

I was wondering about the 2D Bar code on the kiosk stamps and did a patent search. The Bar Code identifier may be the most significant aspect of the kiosk stamp label trials. Canada Post is the owner of a patent issued on April 22, 2008, involving bar code identifiers on postage stamps (Unique identifier bar code on stamps and apparatus and method for monitoring stamp usage with identifier bar codes ) .

http://brevets-patents.ic.gc.ca/opi...basic_search

According to the patent, the embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

A postage stamp for general circulation comprising;

a first area containing postage stamp artwork; and

a second area containing a unique identifier bar code
allowing individual identification of the postage stamp.



Patent Diagram

Canada Post has not revealed the information embodied in the bar codes of the kiosk labels but it can be assumed that it includes an identification number for the stamp, date and location of printing, and denomination.

There were a number of trials in the US of these types of computer vended stamps that were ended suddenly without warning. The first ones came out way back in 1989. In 1999 ones that included the 2D bar codes first appeared. It wasn't util they rolled out the Automated Postal Center machines in 2004 that they became available in more than a few locations.

The Post and Go ones Great Britain has been issuing are the nicest looking ones I have seen.

@lorddenning.
I am sure the 2D-code also contains information pertaining to the credit/debit card transaction of the stamps purchased. This has typically been the case for US computer vended postage stamps. Since theoretically, the postal administration can track down the original buyer of the very stamp by decoding the 2D-code, the Michel ATM world catalog does not list this kind of "personalized postage". It will be interesting to see whether Michel will list the Canadian issue or not. They have not done it with most US issues. They are, however, listed in a recently published US CVP catalog.
Cheers,
atm_hunter